forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => What's New => Topic started by: Chuckt5 on December 13, 2014, 03:33:38 PM
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Anyone care to guess how many of each kit WNW is producing in its initial production runs?
Do you think they are all about the same #, or would they punch out more of some types and less of others?
It would be nice to know if they are getting low on a particular kit before they run out. Then those of us who are on the fence about buying could make a purchase before its too late. Sure keeps you on your toes though! ;)
What do you all think?
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I would not even hazzard a guess.
Des.
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I have no idea myself. Just wondering if anyone out there does really.
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Anyone care to guess how many of each kit WNW is producing in its initial production runs?
Do you think they are all about the same #, or would they punch out more of some types and less of others?
It would be nice to know if they are getting low on a particular kit before they run out. Then those of us who are on the fence about buying could make a purchase before its too late. Sure keeps you on your toes though! ;)
What do you all think?
I'm wondering if their order serial number is the effective serial number of the order.
They have had some 17000 orders now. I can guess that the avg number of kits per order is between 3 and 4.
Therefore they have sold around 50000 kits now and that is in line with the market figures... Around 2000 ww1 modelers in the world, plus some occasional customers and an average of 20 kits per modeller (4 kits times 5 years).... 40000 kits to the aficionados and 10000 among the other 5-10000 modellers.
They produce 1000-2000 kits per run.
They only know how many, but I figure these are the numbers. It maybe that they ordered a bigger run for the first kits, and that eventually they cast a new run for some kits.
We could have a better estimate if some of us (twenty should suffice) share the data about each order that we made... Like serial of the order, number of kits, date of the order.
After our research WnW will discontinue the policy about numbering of their orders :-)
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What is your basis for there being 2,000 First World War modellers in the world?!
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They have had some 17000 orders now.
How do you know that?
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What is your basis for there being 2,000 First World War modellers in the world?!
It is just an estimate... I used the number of registered users for this site as a proxy and validated that number against the number of registered users in LSP, and in other similar website,- these users are a superset of those really enthusiast about ww1 aircraft in 32.
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They have had some 17000 orders now.
How do you know that?
Did you ever place an order at WnW? And more than one order?
Check the invoices you received by email (your WnW order has been shipped) and you will discover why I suppose that they had that number of orders.
I'd like to validate my supposition, and therefore I'm asking for someone that ordered from them, to cross validate our data.
:-)
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I pick the number 42.
Warren
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I pick the number 42.
Warren
Damn! You beat me to it :D
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Answer_to_Life.png)
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It's a good number Bo, we are obviously men of refinement and taste. ;D ;)
I do remember long ago, and far away, back in the late 90's or so, someone pondered on the WWI Modeling List the number of dedicated WWI modelers worldwide. Someone, can't remember who at this point, stated that they had had this conversation with Ray Rimmell, and based on a number of factors, he did indeed guesstimate it at something like 2,000. Now, there's no way to know that, and in my very humble opinion, that number, just like guesstimating the production run WNW kits is nothing more than a WAG.
Warren
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What is your basis for there being 2,000 First World War modellers in the world?!
It is just an estimate... I used the number of registered users for this site as a proxy and validated that number against the number of registered users in LSP, and in other similar website,- these users are a superset of those really enthusiast about ww1 aircraft in 32.
What about those that build in 1/72nd? 1/48th? How about 1/144th? What about the number of modelers that see no need to get on a scale modeling message board. (You might be very surprised, I've met numerous modelers who have told me they have no need or desire to get on a forum.)
Warren
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What is your basis for there being 2,000 First World War modellers in the world?!
It is just an estimate... I used the number of registered users for this site as a proxy and validated that number against the number of registered users in LSP, and in other similar website,- these users are a superset of those really enthusiast about ww1 aircraft in 32.
What about those that build in 1/72nd? 1/48th? How about 1/144th? What about the number of modelers that see no need to get on a scale modeling message board. (You might be very surprised, I've met numerous modelers who have told me they have no need or desire to get on a forum.)
Warren
I think Ermeio's number is low, but on or near the right order of magnitude. You basically can't acquire a WNW without getting on the net, and while yes, for sure not everyone is going to join a msg board, these days seeking info on the web means sooner or later you need to stick your head in the door.
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WNW fans on FB has 2371 fans. You have to imagine they very nearly are all customers.
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WNW fans on FB has 2371 fans. You have to imagine they very nearly are all customers.
Most of them would be, yes, BUT the number of WWI modelers I am sure is beyond the number of WNW customers. I am sure there are a significant number of WWI modelers who have never bought a WNW kit. I only succumbed to temptation in the last thirty days, and may never build one of them. Who knows?
Warren
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WNW fans on FB has 2371 fans. You have to imagine they very nearly are all customers.
Most of them would be, yes, BUT the number of WWI modelers I am sure is beyond the number of WNW customers. I am sure there are a significant number of WWI modelers who have never bought a WNW kit. I only succumbed to temptation in the last thirty days, and may never build one of them. Who knows?
Warren
Right, but Ermeio is trying to get at the number of WNW customers...
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For what it is worth, I'll contend that a fairly large group of modellers is stepping up to 1/32 WWI because of WNW. Ermio's figure of 2K is prolly +- 10%. I have 34 on the shelf, have built 3 and 1 in progress; I'd order another 3 right now if it was in the budget, 4 if I count the AEG on release. I think I'm somewhere in the middle of the pack with stash, and builds.
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Agreed.
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Just like any other model kit manufacturer Wingnuts are not going to tell you how many kits they have sold, try writing to Tamiya or Eduard and ask them their sales figures, I'm sure they will be as silent as Wingnuts.
Many years ago I read a report "somewhere" that a scientific study had been done on the number of modelers who actually make WW1 aircraft models, the figure was surprising, 10,000 approx. Bear in mind that this is worldwide so as a percentage of population it is a very very tiny figure. Forum numbers would not give an indication of WW1 modelers, I know many modelers who have never and never will join a forum but still build WW1 model aircraft. Even the 2000 + members on this forum don't all build models, many have never left a post since they first joined.
Wingnuts are doing well, they are selling quite a few kits and will continue to do so until such time as SPJ decides he doesn't want to play this game anymore.
Getting back to the original question, I stick with my first answer, I wouldn't hazzard a guess - but I am very thankful that Wingnuts are around regardless of how many kits they sell.
Des.
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I put another order today and they are at around 17.000 orders. It would be interesting for me to draw a curve of WNW sales.
I ordered my first batch two years ago, and therefore I hope that someone can send me a PM with something like this:
Order Number: 322924-15647
Order Date: 11 November 2014
but for the period before 2014. The more lines like these I have, the more we can guess about production batches and sales.
With a lot of data like the following:
Order Number: 322924-15647
Order Date: 11 November 2014
32016 - 1/32 Sopwith Pup RNAS $69.00 1
32019 - 1/32 Pfalz D.XII $69.00 1
32027 - 1/32 Fokker D.VII (Alb) $79.00 1
32030 - 1/32 Fokker D.VII (OAW) $79.00 1
we could even guess which are the next kits likely to go sold out and when.
Consider that these are only (statistical) estimates, a sort of exit poll, and therefore we will never be sure.
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Des is right,
but this thread is only "pour parler", like the next WNW kit speculation...
It maybe that the great Peter in the next years will open the Gates of paradise and the world will be inundated by WNW kits, available for just a few bucks each in every little shop (sweet memories of the 70s when the airfix bagged kits were hanging in some corner of almost any shop...)
moreover, guessing how many kits they cast in each run tell nothing, since they can have more than one run, like for the HB W 29...
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moreover, guessing how many kits they cast in each run tell nothing, since they can have more than one run, like for the HB W 29...
Who says they had more than one run? ;) :o For all we know, they've been sitting on those sprues since day one. 8)
Warren
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moreover, guessing how many kits they cast in each run tell nothing, since they can have more than one run, like for the HB W 29...
Who says they had more than one run? ;) :o For all we know, they've been sitting on those sprues since day one. 8)
Warren
Yes the arcane of that WnWfan that sold some 14 W29on evilbay, each one for an astonishing amount of dollars is solved...
there must be a cave full of WnW somewhere, and possibly Gandalf is coming to propose us a new adventure...
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As Des mentioned above, I too am grateful for WNW and how little or many kits they produce. :)
May they continue to do so for a LONG long time! ;)
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I'm so thankfull for WNW... and I strongly believe in re-release in those sold out kits... we are just too impatient though :) Eduard, Tamiya and many more manufactures do re-releases, often after many years after first release... mind you, I ordered WNW Junkers yesterday, makes it 14 planes bought just this year and none built due being on travels :) luckily they can wait :D
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stephen lawson had estimated thru some calculation on the drome a while back more like 10,000 ww1 aircraft modellers worldwide. forums numbers are a gauge of uber enthusists but only a fraction i would say 1/3. for example. myself i own 400 odd ww1 aircraft models. less than 30 are wnw. i am a member here, britmodeller and lsp but i dont really post elsewhere. i am not a member of facebook and could care less about it . i personally know locally half dozen ww1 aircraft modellers. of them only one has face book that i know of. one who has around 10 wnw kits isnt a member of any forum. one doesnt even own a computer he is an older gent of around 65ish and he was known round here as the red baron during mardi gras cuz he had a costume and had modified a bicycle to look like 425/17. my point is internet useage and forum membership is a gauge but is not by any means an accurate estimator.
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Couldn't agree more with Albatros1234... I think it is impossible to try estimate WNW sales and numbers based on internet only...
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2,000..... 10,000...whichever... Out of seven billion people on the planet? Can we really be that much of a minority?
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2,000..... 10,000...whichever... Out of seven billion people on the planet? Can we really be that much of a minority?
Yes, we're like a subset of a subset of geeky nerds.
Warren
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Didn't say we weren't cool. Hell's bells and peanut shells, that's the point man: we're so geeky, we've come full circle to the other side that we're now the coolest of the cool. 8)
Warren
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KING HENRY V:
we, the lucky few...
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
....
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
:-)
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I'm thinking that the point of the original question has been kinda lost. Who knows how many folks are out there buying and building these kits? Most likely we will never really know. It's not really very important accept to the manufacturers anyway. How about the folks at WNW letting us know when they are running low on any of their kits? It may help some of us who are not as fortunate as others financially to spend their limited funds on those kits that they really want before they are gone.
Happy Holidays to all!
Dwayne
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2,000..... 10,000...whichever... Out of seven billion people on the planet? Can we really be that much of a minority?
Yes, could be. What is more amazing is one of this minority has net-worth of 500 million NZD and really likes to spend on his hobbies!
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2,000..... 10,000...whichever... Out of seven billion people on the planet? Can we really be that much of a minority?
Yes, could be. What is more amazing is one of this minority has net-worth of 500 million NZD and really likes to spend on his hobbies!
And aren't we just glad about that? :D
Warren
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and we wont see another exclusively ww1 aircraft injection molded company again......ever.so squirrel enuff away to last to the autumn years of your life .
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I have enough kits to last me a life time and a half, with more kits on order, and that doesn't take into account any scratch builds I do, man, I need to live until I'm at least 150.
Des.
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I have enough kits to last me a life time and a half, with more kits on order, and that doesn't take into account any scratch builds I do, man, I need to live until I'm at least 150.
Des.
I think most of us are in that boat, Des. ;D We must be an optimistic bunch,
not letting a little thing like mortality deter our accumulating. ;D
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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I'm thinking that the point of the original question has been kinda lost. Who knows how many folks are out there buying and building these kits? Most likely we will never really know. It's not really very important accept to the manufacturers anyway. How about the folks at WNW letting us know when they are running low on any of their kits? It may help some of us who are not as fortunate as others financially to spend their limited funds on those kits that they really want before they are gone.
Happy Holidays to all!
Dwayne
I have previously stated that some form of stock ticker would be useful, but now I'm not so sure what with all the speculators and panic buyers. As soon as an item was listed as being low in stock it would sell out, so you'd be no better off.
I've a feeling they do give out clues on their featured releases page, I know the Tripe was on there for quite some time.
It's just a shame I didn't want another one until it had gone.
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Do not panic, folks
There is n need to buy more WNW kits thasn you can built...
There are herds of dwarfs, hobbits and aliens out there with caves full of WNW boxes piled for the autumn.
You know, sir Peter commanded to have at least half million of each kit cast in the first run....
Be sure they will sell them on eBay for ridicoulus prices in the next years , it is even likely that. Santa will bring the entire collection to those wishing a full set of them
:-)
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Near impossible to know, but I'd guess (strictly a guess) the numbers are between 3,000-5,000 units per type, but I also believe WNW would have the foresight to order more of those that would have been predicted to be huge sellers, like the Fokker D.VII.
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They would have sufficient stocks to meet anticipated demand for each kit.
Des.
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Regardless of the number of kits produced, WNW has definitely increased the number of modelers building WWI A/c . After years of shrinking numbers of WWI models seen at club meetings and contests, since WNW came out the numbers have been increasing in all scales of WW I models at clubs & contests--without a drop in other areas.
Again I'll relate the occurrence from the IPMS National Contest of a few years ago where WNW models were in abundance (and each year since!!!), among them there were 4 WNW HB W.29s entered and each one was by a modeler that said it was his first WWI model (one said it was his 1st a/c period) due to: low wing monoplane, no rigging (almost), colorful markings and the buzz about WNW quality and each planned on getting more WNW kits.
So it is not surprising that 3 of the sold out kits fit most of that description; the other 3 easily gobbled by us enthusiasts that knew what they were, the duellist (Fok/Dh2) a bargain much as the F2a/HB is again.
As to actual numbers of WWI modelers, personally whenever I make a WNW order it usually includes models for 1 to 3 others who either do not have: access to the net/ paypal /or pay me cash to hide the real cost from SWMBO --so who knows exactly how many are out there
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I think WNW have probably quadrupled the number of WW 1 modellers out there and squared the standard of building. Easy to use AM like Gaspatch and Aviattic really helps too. When I look back at my old Revell Camel I shudder....
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Impossible to tell, but I'd guess at the low single figure thousands, maybe 1000, to 5,000 units per kit. I'd also guess that they don't have a standard number of production units per kit, which explains why the W29 & Sopwith Triplane sold out pretty quickly & the Albatros are still selling like hot cakes.
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I know nothing about the WnWs production numbers, but I can say that they are completely responsible for my current interest in WW1 plastic models. Before a friend showed me a kit he had just purchased, I was modeling railroads, and mainly paper buildings for these railroads. I'd always liked WW1 aviation, but had never been blown away by the kits like I was when I saw what WnWs we're producing. I'm hooked now!
-George